Client-centred Case Management: How Much Makes a Difference to Outcomes for Homeless Jobseekers?

Abstract

Case management has become the predominant model for attempting to improve outcomes for young adults experiencing both homelessness and unemployment. However, there is little evidence-based knowledge about how young adults respond to case management, and how much intervention is needed to be effective. This Australian study utilised quantitative government data to investigate the effects of the amount of case management on key outcomes. With a purposive sample of 224 people aged 18–35, this study compared four different amounts of YP⁴ case management service received over a three-year period. Participants were categorised into four groupings depending on the number of case management contacts they received: 0–5, 6–20, 21–40, and 41–156. The findings show some significant group variations over the course of the trial in the areas of employment and accommodation. Participants who received 20 or more contacts had significantly better accommodation and employment outcomes than those who received fewer contacts.

个案管理已成为改善无家失业青年状况的主要方式。不过，青年人如何看待个案管理，需要多少干预方能凑效，还缺少实在的知识。这项澳大利亚的研究使用了政府的定性资料来考察个案管理对于关键结果的影响。立意抽样样本包括224位年龄在18—35的中青年，作者比较了个案管理在三年期内所得到的四个不同程度的YP4。参与者根据其得到的个案管理接触的多寡分成四组：0—5，6—20，21—40，41—156。研究发现，在就业及居住方面的尝试过程中，存在这明显的群体差异。有过20次以上干预接触的参与者在居住和就业方面比起次数少的要有更好的结果。

Keywords:

• Homelessness
• Unemployment
• Case Management
• Worker–Client Relationship

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Hanover Welfare Services [no grant number].